Cosmo Films : Goals of Sustainable Packaging
                     Cosmo Films: Goals of 
Sustainable Packaging

Sustainability is a concern for governments, businesses and people worldwide. According 
to studies conducted by global business houses, 39% of consumers check for beverage 
packaging’s environmental information before buying, and 66% of consumers avoid a 
certain brand/product due to environmental concern. With the packaging industry’s 
dependency on the use of plastics, the questions of sustainability are now hovering around. 
As a result, the industry has seen a major shift to sustainable packaging by embarking upon 
the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Packaging manufacturers are now conducting 
intensive R&D to come out with solutions that require reduced raw material, allow reuse of 
packages, and ease of recyclability.
Constant efforts are made, and products like BOPP films have already been introduced to 
facilitate easy recycling. Here are a few points that truly define the goals of sustainable 
packaging.
Increasing Energy & Water Efficiency
Packaging experts need to aim at bringing down the use of energy and water in the 
manufacturing process. This can be achieved by substituting the packaging material used 
with better and efficient substances or by changing the process. The shift from rigid 
packaging like glass to flexible packaging is one of the greatest examples. By reducing 
the amount of energy and water used in the manufacturing process, we bring down the 
greenhouse gas emission and resource exploitation.
Minimizing Raw Material
Reducing the primary material used in packaging production is the key to maintaining 
sustainability. This can be done by reaching an optimal blend of primary, secondary & 
tertiary materials that can be recycled together. However, one cannot completely avoid the 
use of primary material as it prevents damage and wastage. The World Packaging 
Organization argues that no packaging can result in far more wastage by spoiled products. 
Thus, it is only wise to use it judiciously by focusing on the right size and the right strength 
required.
Using recycled materials
The use of recycled materials for packaging can help reduce the industry’s environmental 
footprint drastically. Recycled materials not only help in reducing waste production but also 
require less energy as compared to virgin materials.
Designing renewable & reusable packaging
Packaging designers need to maximize the use of renewable materials for manufacturing 
packaging products. This saves energy, natural resources, and helps achieve sustainability 
efficiently. Also, packaging can be designed to facilitate reuse. For instance, use of zip-
locked bags for packaging allows consumers to reuse the bag further. However, it’s 
extremely rare and that’s why recovery for recycling is a more promising solution.
Facilitating an efficient use of transport
Packaging design should be transport friendly. This means that it should be bearing in mind 
factors like reducing weight, maximizing space usage and utilizing bulk packaging where 
possible. Packaging that is designed keeping in mind bulk transport and not just single item 
appearance helps in cubing out (filling shipping containers effectively) for shipping. People 
have also started to source products from local dealers to reduce the environmental 
damage caused by transportation.
Creating Consumer Awareness
Statistics mentioned in the beginning tell us a lot about consumer inclination towards eco-
friendly packaging. People are increasingly becoming aware of environmental concerns, 
however many still share the use & throw attitude. Packaging designers should make sure 
that through their design they increase awareness amongst consumers by providing 
information like material used and disposal guidelines that enable recycling.
Conclusion
Sustainable packaging that is aimed at reducing the carbon footprint at every stage, from 
manufacturing to disposal, is the need of the hour. Responsible packaging producers like 
Cosmo Films, a speciality films manufacturer, have been continuously involved in 
aggressive R&D to come up with economical and recyclable packaging solutions. Their 
portfolio already boasts of a range of films that make recycling a possibility and facilitate a 
circular economy.